Scientists Work To ‘Up Cycle’ Plastic
Scientists are developing a new recycling process using bacteria to turn PET plastic into a biodegradable plastic that could replace the cellophane in food packaging, according to Science News.
The process could encourage more recycling of the billions of plastic bottles consumed every year.
PET, the plastic used to make water bottles, is usually recycled into a lower-grade plastic, or “down cycled.” The new process would “up cycle” PET into polyhydroxyalkanoate, or PHA, which is much more valuable. PHA is also biodegradable, giving it an environmental advantage.
Scientists are researching to see if the process proves economically and environmentally feasible for large-scale production.
Find a location to recycle your plastic bottles with Earth911.
As of June 17th 2011 we have upgraded our comment system to use Facebook comments. The below comments are closed and are listed for historical purposes.
chuck
posted on August 7th, 2009 at 4:26 pm
Where can i actually receive the $.10 per bottle CRV that i paid when i purchased the fluids inside?